TITLE: Digging into property easements—anyone else find online tools confusing?
Can definitely relate to the “public access through a barbecue pit” moment. Those GIS overlays are helpful for a ballpark, but I’ve seen them off by 10-15 feet, which is a big deal when you’re talking about someone’s fence line or garden. Honestly, nothing beats getting a surveyor out there when it matters—costly, yeah, but it saves headaches (and awkward conversations) down the road. I keep hoping for better tech too, but until then, it’s a lot of boots on the ground and double-checking plats.
TITLE: Digging into property easements—anyone else find online tools confusing?
Those online GIS maps can be a real mixed bag. I’ve had clients get excited about “clear” boundaries, only to find out later the digital line was just an approximation. The tech’s cool for getting a sense of things, but yeah, when it comes to actual fences or landscaping, a few feet off can cause all sorts of headaches.
I totally get wanting something more reliable and less expensive than a full-blown survey. What’s worked for me is using the GIS as a first pass, then pulling up the recorded plat maps from the county if they’re available online—sometimes those have better detail. After that, if it still looks dicey or there’s any doubt, that’s when I recommend bringing in a surveyor.
It’s not ideal, but until those mapping tools get more precise, it’s kind of a patchwork approach. At least you’re catching these issues before breaking ground or putting up fences... seen folks learn that lesson the hard way.
TITLE: DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
I get the appeal of hiring a surveyor, but honestly, the cost can be a real barrier. I’ve tried to rely on plat maps and GIS too, but even those don’t always match up—sometimes the county records are outdated or scanned so poorly you can barely read them. It’s frustrating when you’re just trying to figure out if you can put in a fence without spending thousands. I wish there was a more affordable middle ground... feels like there should be, given all the tech out there.
I’ve tried to rely on plat maps and GIS too, but even those don’t always match up—sometimes the county records are outdated or scanned so poorly you can barely read them.
Totally get this. Even with all the tech, accuracy is all over the place. Ever try overlaying county GIS data with Google Earth? Sometimes it helps, sometimes it just makes things more confusing. It’s wild that we still have to squint at blurry scans in 2024... You’d think there’d be a reliable, affordable app by now.
